The Effect of a Surgeon Communication Strategy on Treatment Preference for Thyroid Cancer: A Randomized Trial.

ABSTRACT: BackgroundCancer diagnosis causes emotional distress, which can influence patients' treatment choice. This study aimed to investigate the effect of increased emotionally supportive surgeon communication in a virtual setting on treatment preference for thyroid cancer.DesignThis randomized trial (NCT05132478), conducted from November 2021 to February 2023, enrolled adults with ≤4-cm thyroid nodules not requiring surgery. Participants were randomized 1:1 to watch a virtual clinic visit depicting a patient-surgeon treatment discussion for low-risk thyroid cancer. Control and intervention videos were identical except for added emotionally supportive communication in the intervention. The primary outcome was treatment preference for total thyroidectomy or lobectomy. Secondary outcomes were perce

SUBMITTER: Jensen CB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11999764 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature